The First Few - On the Healdsburg Map
September 6, 2008 · Print This Article · Written by Jennifer
I know when I travel, I like to find out about things off the beaten path. I like to show up and have an experience. I like to find a local and just ask them what they would do the next day. Where would they recommend I go? Where should I eat? What’s their favorite thing on the menus? (Oh, have you noticed a theme on this website? <cheeky grin>.
People told me that getting the first few advertisers for my map might be difficult. I am new. Advertising money is a bit tight — especially in the forth quarter. When I first decided to do this map and met with Tod and Circe, we talked about bringing the historical perspective to the collective conscious. Basically, there’s a lot of history in Healdsburg: wine history, characters, buildings, bridges, railroads. PROHIBITION!!!
I knew who I’d ask first: the group of tasting rooms on Front Street and Wine Country Bikes. The group at old Roma station. I wanted to ask them if they would be interested in advertising on my map so I could put the Old Roma Station and the Healdsburg Bridge on as a historical land mark. And I would get to research and write about them.
I had been in and around the tasting rooms a few times–when I had my multimedia event in July. I’d asked the to participate, so they knew who I was. (Wine Country Bikes–I know you have submissions…where are they???
However this time, I approached Bruce Snyder of Camellia Cellars first. As soon as I mentioned advertising and maps, he was immediately on guard. He was brusque: “Show me your map.”
I showed him my concept. He repeated: “Show me your map. You guys. You all want our advertising dollars but you never get the map right.”
I tried to say if he were interested, I would spend the time to design the map correctly. He emphasized, “I’m not asking too much. I’m asking to see the map.”
He was right. If you look at any of the current maps of Healdsburg, Front Street is terribly mis-represented. I went and talked to John at Wine Country Bikes. He looked at what I had and mentioned that the way they tell people to get to Healdsburg is to follow that road (he motioned to Hudson Street) to Fitch Street and to turn left at Matheson.
I talked to my designer and we came up with our current version (which, I’m still ruminating about–by the way) but it’s the best we have so far. I keep thinking it’s important to get these guys accurately represented on the map.
When I took my versions of the map and all my ideas back to Bruce and Chris at Camellia Cellars, they agreed to be on the first edition of my map.
Yesterday, I signed up: Huntington Wine, Pezzi King, Camellia Cellars, SOAR Inflatables, Barbara Bourne Landscape Photography, and I think Wine Country Bikes.
I am on my way to meet Holly Hoods at the museum right now to start researching the Old Roma Station.
[PS: Carolyn Lewis of Locals Tasting Room and of the Konrad Gallery sees this post and emails me..."Don't forget Topel Winery's Tasting Room." And I don't, it's just that story is another entry entirely and hopefully, I"ll have that story posted today.]
Comments
Got something to say?